Estinien, Nidhogg's Eyes, and Azure Dragoon powers [HW and SB Spoilers\

Azure Dragoon powers come from being "chosen" by Nidhogg's Eye (the first one that was passed down by Azure Dragoon to Azure Dragoon). This was in Estinien's possession in the DRG quests 30-50 but this eye even chooses you for some reason, granting you powers as well as Azure Dragoon's signature ability Dragonfire Dive.

Then in HW, Estinien absorbs both eyes and gets a red Gae Bolg and enhanced powers. After defeating Nidhogg, the eyes are lost. Even if the eyes are not in physical posession, the Azure Dragoons retain the power bestowed by the eye through an unseen mental link.

That said, after the credits of SB, Estinien finally destroys Nidhogg's eyes, yet his Gae Bolg remains red and, we assume he keeps his powers (as do we).

So what's the fate of Estinien and our powers as Azure Dragoons now that we now longer have a link to Nidhogg? Wasn't that how we were able to summon forth the Dragon Within?

Well influence is one thing however the DRG crystal would still play some role. If you recall in HW both souls were merge so their may be something else going on behind the scenes just like at the end cs with the emperor. Based on the reaction is almost as if he had seen a ghost....who could it be I wonder :P

Every drg gets a soul crystal. Even the generic drg npcs have one. Only the azure drg has Dragonfire Dive though.

My guess is that due to him being bask in Nidhogg's blood, he still has a link to him without needing the eyes.

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Originally Posted by Jonnycbad

That said, after the credits of SB, Estinien finally destroys Nidhogg's eyes, yet his Gae Bolg remains red and, we assume he keeps his powers (as do we).

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His Gae Bolg is red because it's covered in Nidhogg's blood. It's nothing to do with the eyes.

With Nidhogg's eye finally gone, one can only wonder if an Azure dragoon is still needed. Estinien seems happy it's finally finished but at the same time with a bit of melancholy.

A hunter stop living once the hunt ends.

I hope we can still see him more in the future.

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Originally Posted by DarthSanguine

His Gae Bolg is red because it's covered in Nidhogg's blood. It's nothing to do with the eyes.

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His Gae Bolg is not just red, it's differently shaped too. It has a curvy/jagged tip instead of the typical conical lance head that his non bloodied one had. https://goo.gl/images/Udgifd

His lance was corrupted when he got possessed

Not beaten SB yet so this may totally wrong but;

What about Estinien's own aether? What says he wasn't permanently changed on a much deeper level after being literally Nidhogg for a while?

With Nidhogg's eyes being destroyed, his soul/spirit/aether should be gone forevz I would think. Throughout SB, Estinien in his appearances is talking to Nidhogg (metaphorically), e.g. "Let's see what we can do about that cannon". And after Shinryu "Look at the mess you've made, guess you've spent but all of your aether feeding that dragon god, eh?". He bids Nidhogg farewell after piercing the eyes with his Gae Bolg and they disintegrate into red mist. We had assumed our LoTD/Nastrond powers came from Nidhogg's Left Eye since that was the eye that empowered all Azure Dragoons (including us as the WoL/Azure DRG).

Hopefully it gets explained in future patches. Esty only made 2 appearances in the entirety of MSQ but I expect him to make some more cameos.

I think the level 70 DRG job quest explains this a little bit more (not much though)